Kathmandu: Kulman Ghising, the former Managing Director of the Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) and a celebrated figure credited with ending Nepal’s chronic power cuts, is likely to head the country’s interim government. This comes after former Chief Justice Sushila Karki and Kathmandu Mayor Balen Shah withdrew their names from consideration.

A six-hour-long discussion was held earlier in the day between Nepal’s Army leadership, President Ram Chandra Paudel, and representatives of Gen Z protestors to decide the leadership of the interim government amid escalating political unrest.

While names like Karki, Shah, and 40-year-old parliamentarian Sumana Shrestha were discussed, Ghising’s selection as a consensus candidate surprised many. Protesters have hailed him as “a patriot and everyone’s favourite.”

Ghising, born in Bethan village of Ramechhap District, is an electrical engineer who studied on a free scholarship at the Regional Institute of Technology in Jamshedpur, India, and later completed his postgraduate studies at Pulchowk Engineering College.

He was first appointed as Managing Director of NEA in September 2016, where he introduced reforms such as ending the policy of providing 24-hour electricity to select industries, thereby drastically reducing nationwide power cuts.

Despite his successful tenure, Ghising was controversially removed from his post on March 24, 2025, months before his term was to end, sparking public outrage and protests against the government.

Meanwhile, the unrest in Nepal continues to intensify. The Nepal Army has extended prohibitory orders in the Kathmandu Valley’s three districts — Kathmandu, Lalitpur, and Bhaktapur — with limited relaxation periods for essential activities. Night curfew will remain in effect from 7 PM to 6 AM.

The death toll from the protests, largely driven by Gen Z activists angry over corruption and the now-lifted social media ban, has risen to 30, with 1,061 reported injured.

Former Prime Minister KP Oli resigned earlier this week after protestors torched the houses of several ministers, further escalating the crisis.